Portable railway switch



Sept. 22. 1925. v 1554,1343

' i J. s. GODFREY PORTABLE RAILWAY swITcH OriginatFilbd Jan. 1924 Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- PORTABLE nnrnwnvswrrcn.

Application filed January 4, 1924, Serial 1T0, 684,445. Renewed August 14, 1925.

To all whom it may @omem:

Be it known thatI, J OHN 'S. GODFREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Portable Railway Switch, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention is a switching device for temporary use on railways.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a switch of the character described,

5 by means of which temporary switching and siding facilities are secured, without the cutting or the relaying of the rails of'the main line with which the siding is to be connected. A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the character men- 'vation.

track of obstructions.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims, p

In the accompanying drawings v Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a switching device constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure" 2 is a side ele Figure 3 is across section illustrating the switch frog. Figure 4 is a side elevation, and Figure 5 is a cross illustrating the cross-over frog.

Referring to the drawing, 10, 10 representthe rails of the main line track, and 11, 11, represent the rails of a temporary sidmg.

Straddling the rail 10 .is a cross-over frog C, provided on its top surface with crossed rail tread sections 12, similar to the standard cross-over frog construction, said frog C being of approximately inverted U-shape in cross section, to provide a channel 13, to receive the rail 10. Said frog is provided with a baselt, which rests upon the ties 15, of the main line track. The channel or recess 13 is sufiiciently high to slightly clear the top of the rail 10, when the frog straddles saidrail, so that the weight of the frog and of any car passing thereover is wholly section ceive the rail 10.

' sustained directly by the ties 15. The side frog is also provided with bottom flanges I 17 which may be engaged by ordinary spikes driven into the contiguous ties. 15, if it should be found desirable to employ such fastening means. I

The cross-over rail tread portions 12 are extended beyond the ends of the frog, as indicated at 18, and secured by means of suitable fish-plates 19, to the rail 11 and a switchrail section 11, having the movable switch point 11 pivoted thereto. The fishplates may be secured in any desirable manner, but it is preferred to-employ bolts 21, having slots therein to receive wedge-like keys 22;

The switch frog S is also formed'of a body of approximate inverted U-shape in cross section, providing-a recess or channel 28 to re- The base of said frog rests' upon the contiguous ties 15?, and is provided with flanges 24, by means of which it may be spiked to the ties if desired. The channel 23 is sufliciently deep to permit the frog to clear the top of the rail which it straddles. The frogs are provided with two turn-out rail tread portions 25, one of which is secured to the rail 11 by means of fishplates or otherwise. Interposed between the two turn-out rail tread portions 25, and ex tending inthe direction from which the switch is approached, is a tongue 26, which rests upon the top of the rail 10, and is provided with a very thin end, so that a car wheel will ride gradually up the same, and be lifted from the rail 10 as it approaches the switch. V

In operation when it is desired to lay a temporary switch, the frog G is placed over the rail 10 at the selected position, and the scribed. Ordinarily it will not be necessary to spike down either of the frogs, they being sufficiently stabilized against endwlse movementby reason of their connection with the rails of the switch, and against lateral movement by reason of straddling the main ail 10. Should it become necessary to remove the frogs from the main rail 10, to avoid obstruction of travel on the main track, the frogs C' and S may readily be lifted off the rail after first disengaging them from the switch rails, thereby leaying ample clearance for travel on the maln tracln The advantages of the invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the artto which it belongs. For instance, it is frequently necessary for steam shovels to work alongside of a railroad track. Said shovels are usually mounted upon a car or truck constructed to travel upon the normal railroad track. The present practice is to cut the main line and lay a switch wherever necessary. By the present invention the temporary siding for the shovel may be located wherever desired, without cutting the rails of the main line, and a very efiicient switching apparatus is provided. An important advantage is that the frogs are rigidly held in position when in use, but may be readily removed to, clear the main track of obstructions. They are so constructed that they may be quickly positioned or removed as occasion may require. It is to be understood that while particular reference is made to temporary sidings for steam shovels, the invention is not limited to such use, but is equally applicable anywhere that a temporary switch may be found desirable or necessary.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is:-

1. A portable switch of the character described comprising a switch member positioned to engage one rail of a. main track, a switch frog shaped to straddle the other rail of said main track contiguous to the switch member, a cross-over frog also shaped to straddle the last mentioned rail, each of said frogs having a base resting upon the ties of the main track, whereby the rail is relieved of the weight of a car passing over the switch, and switch rails registering with the switch member and frogs, said switch frog having a tongue positioned to extend longitudinally along the rail to direct the wheels of a car upwardly upon the frog.

2. A portable switch of the character described comprising a switch member positioned to engage one rail of a main track, a switch frog shaped to straddle the other rail of said main track contiguous to said switch member, said frog being adaptable for a switch approachable from either direction, a cross-over frog also shaped to straddle the last mentioned rail, each of said frogs having a base resting upon the ties, whereby the rail is relieved of the weight of a car passing over the switch, each of said frogs also having spike engaging flanges, and switch rails registering with said switch member and frogs.

3. A portable switch of the character described comprising a switch member positioned to engage one rail of a main track, a switch frog shaped to straddle the other rail of said main track contiguous to the switch member, a cross-over frog also shaped to straddle the last mentioned rail, each of said frogs having a rail-receiving recess deeper than the height of the rail, and having a base resting upon the ties of the main track, whereby the rail is relieved of the weight of a car passing over the switch, each of said frogs also having rail tread projections, switch rails registering with said projections and fish-plates connecting said rails and said projections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN S. GODFREY. 

